Lubricating installation and apparatus



April l1, 1933. J. BIJUR LUBRICATING INSTALLATION AND APPARATUS Filed Deo. 20, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1` April 11, 1933. J, BUUR I 1,903,499

LUBRICATING INSTALLATION AND APPARATUS Filed Dec. 20,1926 2 sheets-sheet 2 Patented Apr. 11, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT oEFlcE JOSEPH BIJUR, OF NEW :YORK N. vY., AQSSIGNOR T AUTO RFSEARGE (OIB'POIItATION',l A

l CORPORATION OF DELAWARE LUBRICATING INSTALLATION AND APPARATUS Application iiled December 20, 1926. Serial No. 155,810.

My present invention relates more especially to central lubricating systems although it has a broader iield of application lto the distribution of other liquids or viscous fluids.

i Some grades of oil commonly used for the lubrication of automobile engines, and other automobile parts, are not of a homogeneous Huid composition. When allowed to filter by gravity, through dense, porous material, such as wool felt, as in the reservoir of my patented system, Patent No. 1,632,771,they do not pass through completely, but leave behind onthe surface of the filter, a greasy, soapy or tarry coating of the consistency of soft butter, which eventually seals the felt against further passage of oil therethrough under gravity iow.

V4While such oil, especially when rendered iuid by heat due to the location of the oil reservoir under the engine hood, may be forced through the filter at the reservoir by the pressure evolved thereat in the system of the still pending application, the dliiculty previously noted and other objections, would-be encountered at the small feltstrainer plugs ofthe drip plug outlets. These drip plugs being remote from the engine, the oil forced thereto will be considerably more viscous, especially in cold weather, than at the heated reservoir. The greasycons'tituent would, accordingly, separate out at the inlet ends of the felt strainer plugs in the various drip plugs, inordinately increasing the resistance to fiow thereat. The drip plugs offaster.

rating intercepting grease at faster rate than those of slower rating, would rise proportionately faster in resistance, so that the differences in the ratings of the drip plugs would tend to be obliterated and they would eventually all feed at substantially the same rate, those bearings requiring the greatest quantity of oil, accordingly, receiving far too little.

It is, accordingly, an object of the invention to provide a lubricating installation of the general character shown in the patent and application above referred to, in which inhere all of the advantages of said prior systems, which, however, is not limited to the use of homogeneous oils, but will operate with a considerable range of lubricants intended for other purposes.

Another object is to provide an installation of the above type in which the predetermined ratings 'of the drip plugs are maintained 55 throughout, and which installation does not entail a sacrifice of the benefits of low cost, small blk and inobtrusivene of fittings and parts, all characteristic, more especiall of the installation described in the still pen ing application.

Another object is to provide a system of the character referred to, which inherently apprises of 'the presence of improper lubricant therein, and in which any adverse effect of such improper lubricant is confined to a readily accessible region of the system and readily obviated thereat.

According to the present invention, I have provided at the reservoir or pump, a filter of texture such as to transmit under operating pressure, only such greasy, soapy or tarry constituent present in the lubricant, as would also be transmitted underthe operating pressure through the strainers at the drip plugs. As the oil adjacent the drip plug outlets may be of higher viscosity than that at the pump, for the reason previously noted, a filter is provided at the pump of texture considerably denser than that of the strainers at the drip plugs. Where an improper grade of oilis used, that is, one having more greasy, soapy or tarry content than the system can transmit, the filter at the pump, willintercept all or so much of such content as to preclude the ,85 possibility of any separation thereof at the drip plug strainers. For this reason, any diiculty due to the use of an improper lubricant is localized at the filter of the pump. The slow action of the pump on4 repeated use, due 90 to the inordinate resistance imposed by the layer of grease on top of the filter indicates a disturbance. To obviate the same, the user I merely removes the readily accessible filter and cleans or replaces the same, whereby the system is restored to complete operativeness, Without the need for -access to any of the drip plug outlets, which remain operative under all conditions of use.

Preferably, the drip plug is embodied in a 100 u tightened, effects a non-leaking connection for flow of lubric-ant from the pipe line into Aand out of the cartridge to the bearing. Ac-

cording to the present invention, the cartridge is of diameter larger than that of the supply pipe and accommodates in the inlet end thereof a strainer plug of area considerably larger than the bore of the supply pipe. The supply pipe end contacts the outer end of the cartridge, which preferably has a strong metal insert 'extending into said pipe end and about which the compression coupling sleeve clamps the pipe end in the tightening of the threaded bushing.

The drip plug of the present invention an improvement upon those of the copending appllcation of Edward H. Kocher, Serial No. 22,104, file-d April 10, 1925, and Serial No. 93,582, filed March 10, 1926, which was issued June 7, 1932-, as Patent No. 1,862,482, and both sai-d inventions are of the generic type covered by my Patent 1.632,7 72 of June 14, 1927.

In the accompanying drawings in which is shown one of various possible embodiments of the several features ofthe invention,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation with parts broken away and shown in section of a desirable form of reservoir and pump, the latter shown partly charged,

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary diagrammatic view of an application of my system to chassis lubrication,

Fig. 3 is an exploded view of the various 4elements making up the preferred drip plug.

l Fig. 4 is a View in longitudinal cross-sectlon an-d upon a larger scale, showing the drip plug in assembled condition prior toI ti htening the threaded bushing, and;

1g. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 illustrating the completely installed drip plug.

The reservoir 10 has a short cylinder 11 protruding downward from the bottom thereof with a piston 12 therein, within which is mounted an open cage 13 enclosing and providing a seat 15 for a ball check valve 14, normally sustained by a boss 14 protruding upward from the piston end 16. A coil compression spring'20 encircles the piston rod 21 and urges the piston end 16 to seat normally upon an outlet washer 17, on top of the removable thereof, mounted at and feeding into bearings at the frame, such as the rear shackle of the front spring. The pipe line has branches (not shown) sufficiently yielding to convey oil to the axles. The outlets of each branch and the stem of each T fitting applied at a bearing, has a drip plug of the character shown in Figs. 3, 4, and 5.

The pump has a pivoted operating pedal 23 protruding through the dash. 22, coacting at one end with a pin 24 through the rod 21 and adapted to be pushed by the foot for charging the pump, whereupon the spring 20 in its expansion urges the piston downward and the resistance of the oil therebelow urges the ball 14 to its seat 15. The lubricant is thus forced out through the pipe line shown in Fig. 2 to various bearings, each of which as previously noted, has a terminal of the construction shown in Figs. 3, 4, and 5.

The drip plug comprises a cylindrical cartridge 30 of substantially uniform external diameter. In a cavity 31 in the outlet end of the cartridge is disposed a self-centering relief valve 32 having avfacing 33 of oiled silk and urged by a coiled compression spring 34 reacting against a friction-fitted cup 35 to engage the annular valve seat 36. At the inlet end of the cartridge is provided a socket 37 of substantial diameter relative to that of the cartridge, in which is closely fitted a felt strainer plug 38 having the metal screen retaining cup 39 thereof seated against a corresponding shoulder 40 in the cartridge. Between the valve and the strainer plug is disposed a pin or wire 42 of nearly the same diameter as said bore, affording a minute highly resistant flow passage, substantially as in the patent above identified. The resistance of the crevice, determined by the pm 1n the bore, is in itself substantially lcontrolling of the relative rate of flow through the drip plug under any given pressure, the combined resistance to iow ofthe strainer plug and of the valve being less than that due to the restriction. The 'rating desired at each drip plug is determined by the diameter of pin, which ranges as in the copending application from .002 to .006 of an inch smaller in diameter than that of bore 41, which latter is in the cartridge bore, and bottoming against the shoulder 48 at the extremity of said enlargement. The upper edge of the cartridge is also preferably staked inward at 46 to further the system. The head 46 also has an extension skirt 49 pressing against the outer periphery of the felt strainer 38 and leaving the main 13 mode of application.

area thereof exposed to flow. The insert sleeve is'slightly reduced as at 50 at its outer extremity for ease of application of the pipe branch length 51 thereover. A soft metal 'compression coupling sleeve 52 encircles the pipe extremity and is arrested at its base 53 by the end of the cartridge when tightened as.

in Fig. 5. A bushing 54 encircles the length of the cartridge with small clearance and is d threaded at 55 into the bearing or mounting socket 56'at which the Aterminal is to be applied. The head of the threaded bushing has an oblique inner shoulder 57 contacting the reduced extremity of the compression cou- 0 pling sleeve 52, so that in the process of tightening said bushing, the sleeve is forced inward, pressing the metal of the pipe 51 inward, as shown in Fig. 5, upon the resistant steel insert 45, which'latter resists collapse 5 of the pipe, and affording an oil-tight joint.

It is desired to avoid applying any twisting strain upon the pipe in the rotary movement of tightening the threaded bushing.

For this purpose, the base 53 of the compression coupling sleeve is provided with a knurled beveled part 60, which engages a narrow upstanding fillet 61 on the cartridge. In the process of tightening the threaded bushing, the milled teeth of the compression 5 coupling sleeve are caused to bite into fillet 61 and thereby to tightly lock said sleeve 52 to the cartridge. The cartridge contacting at its outer diameter, the tapered inner end 56 of the socket, as shown, while the threaded bushing coacts with the compression coupling sleeve 52 alongva diameter only that of the pipe, it follows that there is a greater force or leverage tending toretain the cartridge and its compression coupling sleeve against rotation than that tending to rotate the same with the bushing, whereby twisting of the pipe 51 is avoided. v The pressure exerted through sleeve 52 upon the cartridge end in tightening the threaded bushing swages the metal of the cartridge inward at its upper edge about the bevel 65 on the insert head 46, so that these parts are more intimately associated together into a single oil-tight unit. Preferably the insert 45 affords a stop shoulder 51 for the end of pipe 51, so that the latter does not interfere with the swaging of the'cartridge end over the insert.

The exploded view of Fig. 3 illustrates the The cartridge 30 is inserted into the socket 55. The threaded bushing 54 and the sleeve 52 are passed over the pipe end 51 and the latter is passed over the 45 on the cartridge, whereupon the `5 threaded bushing 54 is simply screwed iniward to complete the assembly and installa- In the present construction, the cartridge 1s completely concealed and-protected within and between the socket 56 and the protruding threaded bushing 54 in the assembled or installed construction. The terminal is inobrusive and, in fact, has the appearance and small bulk of an ordinary pipek terminal devoid of any flow controlling instrumentality. The pressure of the inner cartridge end against the socket end 56" prevents leak thereabout and the coupling connections at the pipeend are also liquid-tight as previously noted, so that the lubricant through the pipe 51 must all pass through the cartridge to the bearing, and will not leak around the cartridge.

As compared with the drip plug of the copending application Serial N '0. 93,582, I have here provided a cartridge of uniformly large diameter from end to end,.only the ,protruding steel insert sleeve 45 extending into the bore of the pipe. This large diameter of cartridge affords the space for the large diameter strainer shown, a diameter considerably larger than the bore of the feed pipe.

In one practical embodiment, the filter 18 at the pump is of all-wool laundry felt 1/1 inch thick and of density such as to weigh 41/2 pounds the square yard. The strainer plugs 38 are of all-wool corn plaster felt fig 'inch thick of density such as to Weight 11A:

pounds to the .square yard. With filter 18 of approximately 11A), square inches in area, and each of ten, twenty or more strainer plugs 38 of B- inch in diameter, oil of a viscosity of 600 Saybolt-seconds at 100 degrees F. would enter the pipe line at a rate of about 12 c. c. per minute under a pump pressure of about 90 to 95 pounds per square inch. The pressuredrop in the filter 18 under these specifications would be 9 to 15 pounds per square inch, leaving available a ypressure of 75 to 85 pounds per square inch to force the oil through the pipe line, and the drip plugs.

In operation, the initial pressure transmltted by the stressed pump spring 20 is promptly` propagated throughout the system and causes the valves 32 to crack ofi' their seats, Emission takes place through the period of pump discharge at rates controlled at each drip plug largely by the diameter of restriction pin 42 therein. u After the pump has completed its stroke, the drip plug valves y,reseat to prevent leak of oil from the oilsufficiently dense and sufficiently thick to arrest any such particles beforethey can trav- .erse far into the body thereof, so that such particles cannot clog the minute pin restriction or become lodged at the seat 33 of the relief valve.

Should the reservoir be charged with improper lubricant, having much greasy, soapy or tarry constituent, the latter Will be strained out on top of the filter 18 and Will so greatly increase the resistance imposed thereafter to the discharge of the pump, that the consequent extremey slow descent of the pump piston will give notice that the filter 18 has been clogged. By simply unscrewing cap 19, access is had to the filter 18 Which may be replaced by a fresh o-ne and the system is thus restored to operativeness. None of the drip plug strainer plugs 38 has been deranged by the improper oil, the troublesome greasy residue thereof having been intercepted at the filter 18 as previously noted.

By the expression flow controlling fitting, device, unit or cartridge as utilized in the claims, is meant a unitary assembly containing a Valve and/or a strainer and/or, a restriction. The fiow controlling fittings, devices, units or cartridges are preferably enclosed Within a socket or cup-shaped cavity in or associated With the mounting structure or member which may be the fixed bearing structure or a part firmly associated there-y with.

It is, of course, to be understood that the present invention is broadly directed to flow controlling devices Whether or not such fioW controlling devices may be utilized with a pump or pressure source of the special construction shoWn in Fig. 1 or with inlet filters of the particular characteristics described.

` I claim:

1. A distributing installation for viscous liquids and more especially for conveying lubricant concurrently to the bearings'to be supplied through a piping system having a plurality of outlet branches connected in multiple for concurrent emission, said system having near the inlet thereof a filter through which the lubricant or other liquid is forced under-pressure exerted by a pump or other source of pressure, each of the branches having a controlling outlet including a strainer of texture so close as to intercept any solid particles picked up and entrained by the lubricant. in the pipe line, yet sufficiently loose to pass With the oil any greasy constituent thereof that has \been forced throu h the filter. u

2. A distrmting installation for conveying lubricant 'concurrently to bearings to be supplied through a piping system having a source of pressure and a plurality of outlet branches connected in multiple for concurrent emission, said system having near the inlet thereof a filter through which the lubricant is forced under pressure, each of the branches having a controlling outlet includ-v stantially controlling of the rate of emission therethrough substantially regardless of the length of pipe line intervening therebetween and the source of pressure.

3. A central lubricating installation including a. pressure pump, distributing piping supplied therefrom having flow controlling outlets each of said outlets having a protective strainer of closely meshed strand-like material, and a filter of closer texture than that of'said strainers and of area. greater than the combined area of said strainers, serving to intercept material that Would otherwise tend to clog said strainers, said filter being readily removable for replacement.

4. A drip plug comprising a cylindrical cartridge having flow restriction means therein, a hard metal sleeve at the inlet end of said cartridge, a mounting bushing for said cartridge having a threaded exterior adapted to be applied to a bearing, and having a cylindrical bore confining said oartridge, and compression coupling means enclosed by the outer end of said bushing for tightening connection of the end of a feed pipe with respect to said hard sleeve when the bushing is applied in position.

5. A drip plug comprising a cartridge having a flow restriction thereln, a felt strainer plug in a socket near the inlet end of said cartridge', and a hard metal sleeve inserted in the outer end of said socket exerting .pressure on the rim of said strainer plug, and protruding beyond said cartridge, a threaded bushing adapted to be applied to a bearing and having a cylindrical bore confining said cartridge and a compression coupling sleeve confined within said bushing and co-operating with said hard sleeve for tight connection of a feed pipe extremity With respect thereto.

6. A drip plug comprising a cartridge having fiow controlling means therein, a hard metal sleeve member fitted in a corresponding-socket at the inlet end of said cartridge, and having a stop shoulder beyond said cartridge for the extremity of a feed pipe length, a threaded bushing adapted to be applied to` a bearing and having a bore to confine said cartridge and compression coupling means within said bushingl placed under compression by said bushing when the latter is tightened, to effect a lubricant tight coupling of said pipe end by reaction against said hard sleeve.

7. A dri plug comprising a cylindrical cartridge aving flow restriction means therin, a hard metal sleeve at the inlet end of said cartridge, a threaded bushing coacting with said cartridge, and compression couplin means enclosed by the outer end of said ushing for tightening connection of the end ofa feed pipe with respect to said hard sleeve when the bushing is applied in position.

8. A drip plug comprising a unit having calibrated flow controlling means therein, a protective wool felt strainer plug in a corresponding socket at the inlet end of said unit, a hard metal sleeve fitted in said socket and having a rim engaging the periphery of said plug, said sleeve having a shoulder serving as an abutment for the extremity of a feed pipe, and a. threaded bushing having a compression coupling part therein adapted when tightened to coact with said hard sleeve for tightening said pipe.

9. A drip plug comprising a cylindrical cartridge having a restriction pin longitudinally thereof, a relief valve at the outlet end, a wool :felt strainer in a corresponding socket at the inlet end thereof, a hard sleeve fitted into the extremity of said socket and having a skirt to engage the periphery of the strainer, said sleeve having a protruding end about which the extremity of a feed pipe is adapted to be telescoped, and having a shoulder serving as an abutment for the extremity of said feed pipe, a compression coupling sleeve to encircle said pipe extremity and a threaded bushing adapted to be applied to a bearing and having a cylindrical bore to enclose said cartridge and coacting at its outer extremity structure, an inlet pipe extending through with said coupling sleeve to force the latter inward against the hard sleeve therein.

10. A drip plug unit comprising a cylindrical cartrldge having a restriction pin in a corresponding bore longitudinally thereof, a strainer plug of Wool felt fitted in a correspondin socket in the inlet end of said cartridge an a hard metal connector sleeve element fitted in a corresponding enlargement in the outer end of the socket having an integral skirt engaging ery of the felt plug, and having a protruding tapered end about which the extremity of a feed pipe is adapted to be telescoped.

11. A drip plug unit comprising a cylindrical cartridge having a restriction pin in a corresponding bore longitudinally thereof, a strainer plu of wool felt fitted in a corres ondin soc et in the inlet end of-said cartri ge an a hard metal connector sleeve the outer periph element fitted in a corresponding enlargement in the outer end of said socket, and having an integral skirt engaging the periphery of the felt plug, and having a protruding tapered end about which the extremig of a feed pipe is adapted to be telescope said sleeve tremity of the cartridge serving as an abutment for the pipe extremity.

12. In a iiow controlling pipe Aterminal connection, the combination of a terminal carrying structure, a flow Vcontrolling unit .and a pipe end associated therewith, a mountwith, a mounting element adapted to be attached to said structure encircling said unit and having an axial aperture for said pipe end and a compression coupling sleeve encircling and clamping said pipe end and transmitting pressure from said mounting element through said unit to force the latter against said structure, said sleeve contacting with said unit beyond the portion thereof containing the flow controlling element positioned outermost.

14. In a flow controlling pipe terminal connection, the combination of a terminal carrying structure, a flow controlling cartridge, a mounting bushing encircling the outer end of said cartridge and xed to said an axial aperture in said bushing and a compression coupling sleeve abutting said cartridge, abutted by said bushing to transmit longitudinal thrust from said bushing through said cartridge and clamping said pipe in rigid liquid-tight relation substantially beyond the outer end of said cartridge.

15. In a iow controlling pipe terminal connection, the combination of a termi/nal carrying structure, a flow controlling unit and a pipe end associated therewith, a mounting element adapted to be attached to said structure encircling said unit and having an axial aperture of varying dimension which at its smaller dimension embraces the having a shoulder beyond thejexpipe end and at its larger dimension eming element through said unit to force latter against said structure.

16. In a liow controlling pipe terminal connection, the combination of a tapped bearing socket, a flow controlling cartridge including an elongated ow restriction passage inserted in said socket, a threaded bushing encircling and embracing said cartridge and threaded into said socket, a feed pipe having its extremity inserted through an axial aperture in the outer portion of said bushing and abutting the outer end of said cartridge, and a compression coupling sleeve embraced within. sai'd bushing, encircling said pipe extremity, having one end abuttingthe cartridge near its outer end, abutted at its other extremity by said bushing to transmit longitudinal thrust from said bushing through said cartridge to the bottom of said socket and clamping theypipe extremity in secure liquid-tight relation adjacent the outer end of said cartridge.

17. A fiow controlling arrangement comprising an elongated body having flow controlling means therein, a hard metal sleeve at an end of said body, anut for attaching a pipe end to said body having a cavity for receiving said end of said body and compression coupling means enclosed by said nut for making a lubricant-tight connection of the said pipe end with respect to said hard sleeve when the nut is applied` in position.

18. A flow controlling unit comprising a socketed elongated fitting having a flow controlling means enclosed therein, a strainer in said socket and a shouldered hard metal connector sleeve element fitted in the outer end of said socket, and having an integral skirt telescopin'g within said socket and holding said strainer in place.

19. A iiow controlling arrangement comthe prising a body having a felt strainer plug in a socket near an end thereof, and a hard metal sleeve inserted in the outer end of said socket exertin pressure on the rim of said strainer p ug,l and protruding be ond said body, a nut for attaching a fee pipe extremi thereto having a cavity for receiving sa1d end of said body and a deformable compression coupling means confined within said nut and cooperating with said hard sleeve for tight connection of said feed pipe extremity with respect thereto.

threin, a hard metal sleeve member .fitted in a corresponding socket at an end of said body, and having a stop shoulder for the extremity of a pipe length, a nut having a cavity to receive an end of said body-and a deformable compression coupling means within said nut placed under compression by said nut when the latter is tightened, to effect .a lubricant tight coupling of said pipe 20. A pipe terminal arrangement comprisa body having How controlling means end by reaction against said hard sleeve.

21. A liow controlling unit comprising a socketed elongated fitting having a flow con trolling means enclosed therein and a hard metal connector sleeve element with an integral skirt telescoped into said socket and having a tapered clamping portion with which the extremity of -a feed pipe is telescoped 'and against which it is clamped.

22. In a coupling arrangement for a liquid conduit system including a pipe end, a socketed brass fitting, a deformable compression coupling means and a coupling nut cooperating together to connect the pipe end to the fitting; a steel thimble for reinforcing said brass body provided with a skirt telescoped within said socketed fitting and a tapered portion projecting beyond said socket for cooperation with said deformable colipression coupling means to grip said pipe en fitting having iiow restriction means therein, a hard metal sleeve at an end of said lit-I ting, a nut coacting with said fitting, and compression coupling means enclosed by said nut for making a lubricant tight connection of the end of a feed pipe with respect to said hard sleeve when the nut is applied in position. 24. A drip plug comprising a bored elongated body having a restriction pin longitudinally thereof a relief valve at the outlet end, av felt strainer in a corresponding socket at the inlet end thereof, a hard metal sleeve fitted into the extremity of saidl socket and havinga skirt to engage the periphery of the strainer with which sleeve the extremity of a feed pipe is telescoped, and. also having a shoulder serving as an abutment for the extremityof said feed pipe, a compression coupling sleeve to encircle said pipe extremity and a nut having a cavity to enclose said body and coacting at its outer extremity inward against the hard sleeve therein.

25. In a conduit system for a lubricating I installation, combination, 'a mounting structure provided with a threaded cavity, a

cartridge of substantially smaller diameterthan said socket inserted therein provided witha central passageway the outer portion of which is enlarged, a thimble fitted into said enlargement protruding therebeyond to form an annular tapered clamping portion, a pipe end telescoped around said clamping portion an externally threaded cap encircling said plpe endV embracing said. cartridge and screwed within said socket and atapered deformable coupling means between said cap and said thimble.

26. In a conduit system fora lubricating installation, in combination, a mounting structure provided with a threaded cavity, a

cartridge of substantially smaller diameter than said socket inserted 'therein provided w1th a central passageway the outer portion of which is enlarged, a thimble fitted into said enlargement protruding therebeyond to form anann'ular tapered clamping portion, a

pipe end telescoped around said vclamping portion, an externally threaded cap encircling said pipe and embracing said cartridge V pression coupling means enclosed by said nutfor making a lubricant-tight connection of the said pipe end with respect to said hard sleeve when the nut is applied in position,

.the body being provided with a socket into which a portion of said hard metal sleeve is telescoped, and the telescoped portion of the hard metal sleeve being knurled so as to grip the interior of said socket.

Signed at New York city in the county of New York and State of New York this 13th day of December, A. D. 1926.

JOSEPH BIJ UR. 

